Effect of salinity decline on macrozoobenthos community of Cibeureum river estuary, Java, Indonesia

Abstract

A total of 22 species (Coelenterate-1; Polychaetes-8; Crustaceans-9; Molluscs-4) were recorded during the study. Results or cluster analysis confirmed the role of salinity decline on the structure and distribution of macrozoobenthos in question. Capitella capitata, Magelona sp., Ophelina sp. and Prionospio spp, and Stenothyra ventricosa, show positive correlation to salinity, while Neanthes succinea, Grandidierella bonnieri, Photis genintlata, Cyclaspis sp., Halmyrapseudes killaiyensis and Cryptomya sp. show negative correlation, corresponding to species clusters before and after the decline of salinity. The role of other environmental factors, particularly sediment variability, supply and availability of food, and biotic interactions, on the macrozoobenthos community studied were also discussed.